Startups Grid, Aviern Advance Plans For Uncrewed Cargo Aircraft

Grid Aero has partnered with Oshkosh Defense to prepare its modular Lifter uncrewed cargo aircraft for manufacturing as it works toward flying its first full-scale prototype. Oshkosh will help adapt the design for production, plan manufacturing and develop the supply chain for the aircraft. Separately, Aviern has revealed the A1000, a fixed-wing cargo aircraft designed for autonomous takeoff and landing on short, unprepared strips, with a stated payload of 1,000 pounds and range of 1,000 miles. Aviern has flown a demonstrator using its own flight software as it develops the aircraft for commercial and defense logistics.